[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E405-E406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE NORMAN MINETA, RECIPIENT OF THE TOMODACHI 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Norman Mineta--
former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Transportation--for being honored 
with the prestigious Tomodachi Award from the Japanese Cultural and 
Community Center of Washington in recognition of his lifelong 
dedication to growing and supporting the Japanese-American community.
  The Japanese word ``Tomodachi'' translates to ``friend'' in English, 
therefore it is fitting that the award seeks to recognize individuals 
or groups who have, through their work, demonstrated a commitment to 
celebrate Japanese and Japanese-American culture and to strengthen 
cultural ties between the United States and Japan.

[[Page E406]]

  The Honorable Norman Mineta has led a distinguished career in public 
service and is a fitting recipient of the Tomodachi Award. As a former 
Mayor of San Jose, California, he is recognized as the first Asian 
American mayor of a major U.S. city. Mr. Mineta was then elected to the 
United States House of Representatives, where he served from 1975 to 
1995. During his time as a Congressman, he co-founded the Congressional 
Asian Pacific American Caucus and was the driving force behind the 
Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which formally apologized to the Japanese 
American community for the injustices committed during World War II.
  In 2000, President Clinton appointed Mr. Mineta as the Secretary of 
Commerce, where he served until he was nominated by President George W. 
Bush to serve as the United States Secretary of Transportation. Not 
only is Mr. Mineta the first Asian American to hold a post in the 
presidential cabinet, but he is also one of only a few individuals to 
hold cabinet positions in both Republican and Democratic 
administrations.
  As Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Mineta played a pivotal role 
during the chaos of the attacks on September 11, 2001. Without 
precedent, he made the decision to ground all civilian aircraft to 
ensure the safety of American lives. Following the attacks, Mr. Mineta 
was a major proponent of the creation of the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) and he fought against racial profiling and extra 
screening of Middle Eastern and Muslim passengers.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize The Honorable 
Norman Mineta for his relentless dedication to public service and to 
strengthening Japanese American culture. He continues to play an active 
role in engaging the relationship between Japan and the United States 
and serves as an inspiration for all working in public service.

                          ____________________